Rail-joint.



(No Model.)

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a a l `lUNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE.

JOHN A. BRIDGE, OF VALL STATION, PENNSYLVANIA. l

RAlL-JOlNT.

SEECEFECATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 713,391, dated November 11. 1902.

Application filed June 23, 1902. Serial No. 112,772. (No model.)

T0 olii whom, it' 71u01/ con/cern:

Beit known that I, JOHN A. BRIDGE, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Vall Station, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom panying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rail-joints, and relates more particularly to that class wherein the use of nuts and bolts are entirely dispensed with.

The present invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby rails may be easilyconnected together; furthermore, to provide novel means that will permit the rails to be laterally adjusted to obtain the proper gage.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means to permit the rails of a lateral adjustment in case the inner faces of the tread of the rails become worn by reason of the friction caused by the tianges of the wheels passing over the same. Great difficulty has been experienced heretofore in accurately adjusting the rails after the inner faces of the tread are slightly worn away. My invention aims to effectually overcome this difficulty.

The present invention also contemplates to provide a rail-joint that will be extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient in its use.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views,in which- Figure l is a perspective view showing the meeting ends of the rails secured together by my improved joint. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base-plate. Fig. 4: is a plan view of one of the locking fish-plates.

In the drawings the reference-numeral l represents the cross-ties, and 2 represents the base-plates, having wedge-shaped grooves 3 and 4t formed therein, said wedge shaped grooves tapering in opposite directions. The said base-plate 2 also forms a flat top 5 and a wedge-shaped projection 6, which slightly inclines toward the center. The locking fishplates S are also wedge-shaped on their lower faces and are adapted to engage the projection 6 and rest upon the flat top 5. These locking fish-plates are correspondingly wedgeshaped in opposite direction and form a clamping action upon the base and web of the rails 9. These locking fish-plates are further provided with strengtheningribs l0, formed integral therewith, and have formed at their ends elongated notches 1l, spikes l2 engaging the locking fish-plates and pass through the hase-plate 2 and engage the ties l. Similar spikes 1I engage the notches l5, formed in the ends of the base-plate 2, and serve to further secure the base-plate to the ties.

The operation of my improved rail-joint is as follows: The rails are placed upon the base-plate in the ordinary manner, and the locking fish-plates are then secured upon the base-plate and are placed in position endwise, which locking fish-plates are secured from the opposite direction, thereby forming a clamping action upon the rails, and when it is desired to adjust the rails laterally it will be easily accomplished by extending one fishplate slightly beyond the other, vwhich will serve to move the rails inwardly, thereby obtaining the desired gage between the rails. The locking fish-plate is'then fastened by means of the spikes 5, or other suitable fastening means may be employed for this purpose. In order to remove the rails, the locking fish-plates are drawn in the opposite direction endwise, which will tend to loosen the joint, when the fish-plates may be easily removed, and the rails are then free to be removed or replaced as the occasion may require.

It will be noted that in this device it is not necessary to insert the rails in their position lendwise, which has proven an objectionable feature in this particular class of invention; but the rails are placed in position upon the base-plate in the ordinary manner. It will also be apparent that the present construc- IOO tion as heretofore described Will permit the expansion and contraction of the rails which are caused by the changes in temperature.

The many other advantages obtained by the use of my improved device will be readily apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings.

It Will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rail-joint, the combination oi' the base-plate having oppositely-inclined grooves formed therein, locking fish-plates slidably secured in said grooves whereby the lateral adjustment of the railsis secured, substantiaily as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with the rails, ties, base-plates secured upon said ties having inclined grooves formed in their npper faces extending in opposite directions, locking sh-plates slidably secured in said grooves having elongated notches formed in their edges, strengtheningribs extending transversely to said locking iish-plate formed integral therewith, all parts being arranged and operating substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rail-joint, the combination ofa bascplate having iat tops and oppositely-inclined grooves formed therein, locking fish-plates secured in said grooves, fastening means eX- tending through said base-plate and forming an engagement with the upper face of said locking iish-plates, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN A. BRIDGE.

IVitnesses:

JOHN SHINKLE, WM. T. Soorfr. 

